NEWS
#MKOAbiola: What Ezekwesili, Falana said about Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as new Democracy Day
Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has reacted to the change of the Democracy Day date from May 29 to June 12, TOPNAIJA.NG can confirm.
Ezekwesili hailed the decision by Buhari to declare June 12 as the new Democracy Day in honour of the late presumed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election, Abiola.
She, however, urged Buhari to also honour Mrs Kudirat Abiola. Ezekwesili, in a tweet, said, ”That’s a very welcome gesture from @NGRPresident @MBuhari – this honor done Chief MKO Abiola. The symbolism of June 12 is huge for our Democracy.
”The sacrifice of the Abiola family was much and I do hope Mrs Kudirat Abiola is similarly accorded the honor due her. #History.”
In the same vein, Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says President Muhammadu Buhari has by declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day put an end to the “hypocrisy” of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Falana said declaring June 12 as Democracy Day “validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta”.
The human rights lawyer also called on the government to adopt Abiola’s welfare programme to tackle poverty.
“The Muhammadu Buhari administration made history today by conferring the post humous national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola, the acclaimed of the June 12, 1993 presidential election for his huge contribution to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria,” the statement read.
“By declaring June 12 Democracy Day the federal government has officially validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta.
“By recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day the federal government has put an end to the hypocrisy of May 29 which was proclaimed by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime. By confering the post humous award of national award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN the federal government has officially endorsed his enormous contributions to the titanic battle against military dictatorship and promotion of human rights in Nigeria.
